Both of these artists are known for their ability to go dark. They are both phenomenal, but who does it better?

I don't really care for either, but I think Kelley Jones is the more interesting artist.

I discovered Jones on Batman covers, and the read some of his work on Deadman. It was an incredibly intense read, and the trade is well worth picking up. I loved the Batman/Dracula Trilogy, though nothing came close to recapturing the magic of Red Rain. His run on the Batman was cool, though Jones doesn't really belong on a mainstream Bat title. Loved Gotham After Midnight by Niles (the art anyway). I've like Jones' art on everything except Haunted Gotham.
Mandrake on Spectrte was just gold, so much so that he ecliped every other artist on the character (well maybe not Aparo). His run on Batman was also cool. He was an interesting choice on Martian Manhunter though. I'd go with Jones because of the uniqueness of his take on characters. His Deadman was a dead man, and just brilliant.

I like Mandrake's top hat, so he wins.

Also, Mandrake hung out with Flash Gordon and the Phantom, in outer space.

Mandrake has a big root.

Mandrake's first work didn't thrill me, but I was pulling for him. He started out in the second issue of New Talent Showcase, and then did the Spanner's Galaxy mini-series (which I was a big fan of). When he moved to the Batman title, they ran an interview with the guy where he spoke about how he was learning as he went along. He'd taught himself to draw the human form (superheroes) but had trouble drawing clothes. When he got the Batman gig he grabbed a bunch of clothing catalogs and taught himself what he needed for the job at hand (cops and mobsters in suits, women in gowns... the Batman world of characters). He wasn't a great artist at that time, but after reading how he was busting his ass to work in the business, I wanted him to succeed.

After a decade away from comics, I was happy to return and hear people discuss Mandrake as one of their favorite artists.

I prefer Mandrake.

I had a nice conversation with Tom Mandrake at the Baltimore Con. We had a good laugh about the current goatee-sporting Spectre, he thinks it looks dopey too.

I think Mandrake is better overall---as noted in a different thread, I think his work on The Spectre with John Ostrander is one of the best creative runs on a DC title ever.

But Batman is my favorite character, and I think Jones does him even better than Mandrake. I, too, love all the Moench-Jones Batman work, from the vampire trilogy (unlike Ari, my favorite is the final chapter, Crimson Mist) to Haunted Gotham to the current Batman Unseen mini to, of course, the fantastic run on the regular Batman title.

Take away the weak first issue of that run, which was written with a different artist in mind, and you've got a great journey with Batman through the dark side of the DCU: the Scarecrow, Ragman, the Swamp Thing, the Demon, Man-Bat, Deadman, the Spectre, plus our old pals the Joker, Penguin, and Two-Face. That stuff is just great and I try to re-read the entire run every year or so. The only hitch is that such weird, stylized stuff should have been over in the Shadow of the Bat title, not the regular Batman one.

Forgot to mention, Jones also did the art for my favorite Sandman story, Season of Mists.

But I'll still go with Mandrake overall.

Wish that DC would collect Jones' Batman run. It was a fun ride.
Crimson Mist was a good read, don't get me wrong. Did you read Dark Joker the Wild? VERY werid, and I loved it!! Mandrake's run on Spectre was inspired. The first eight issues---WOW!!

i'm with Ross.....Mandrake all the way.

beautiful piece,BTW.

I forgot about this one when I named the other Moench-Jones Batman work above. Yes, I did read it but I'm afraid I didn't care for it like you did. I love Batman and I like dark fantasy, but in this case putting them together didn't work for me. I'm not even sure if I still have my copy of it anymore.

Of course, I'm the one guy in the world who likes Haunted Gotham, so make of that what you will

Haunted Gotham just didn't work for me. The art even looked totally off. Moench's writing is hit or miss, but usually Kelley's art is the draw for me. I didn't care for the art in Haunted Gotham. Now Gotham After Midnight? Wowza!!!! Just incredible art. He used Batman's cape so brilliantky throughout. I'm assuming the book sold well because Jones is doing another mini. Gotham After Midnight also left the door open for a sequel. Anyone know if that is going to happen?

Dark Joker the Wild was a quirky story. Batman wasn't Batman, but a Bat Man. It was a fantasy story, and people seem to love or loathe it. Batman and magic aren't the best mix, I agree. I enjoyed it for what it was, and don't consider it a Batman story

Mandrake's more old-school and is more timeless. Kelley Jones screams '90s to me. Bad '90s.

Usually, when people mention comic art in the 90s, it is about Image art. I don't associate Jones with the Image Boys at all. He is unique, and brought (or brough back, with due respect to Mr. Wrightson) Batman back to the horror genre.

I don't either. Jones's style isn't for everyone and certainly not everyone loves the demonic-looking Batman that Jones and Norm Breyfogle did. I wouldn't list Jones as an all-time great, but he can tell a story and compose a page very well. Unlike many of the Image guys (and Image-like guys at the Big 2), there was and is substance behind Jones's style.

Just so there's no misunderstanding, I do think Batman and magic can and sometimes do go together well. Many of my favorite Batman tales have involved magic and/or the supernatural.

I didn't pick up GAM even though I saw Jones was doing the art and it sounds right up my alley. Figured I'd just wait for the trade.

So there better be a trade.

There is a trade!!! I bought it last week. Lots of fun for Jones fans.